Pressure-balanced Thermostatic Radiator traps are most commonly found on low pressure (25 psig and under) steam heating systems. Located on radiators, convectors and other radiant heat units, there may be literally hundreds of these scattered throughout larger facilities. The operating unit within the trap - a pressure-balanced disc or bellows - is filled with a distilled liquid to respond to the changes in temperature (i.e. pressure) within the trap.

The disc or bellows will generally 'fail open' after three to five years of hard work (after five years, it has opened and closed hundreds of thousands of times). The orifice sizes (*) shown for all the steam traps are conservative estimates of the average size found in these traps. Actual loss may be more or less than shown.

* Assigned orifice sizes employed in the traps when under the differential operating pressures as shown.

Float and Thermostatic (F&T) traps are found where higher levels of condensate are produced - such as unit heaters, end-of-mains, heat exchangers, etc. The modulating control provided by the float allows for continuous discharge of condensate when necessary. The air vent in this trap will generally "fail open" after three to five years of hard work.

The mechanism and float assembly, which allows the condensate to discharge, may operate efficiently for eight to ten years, and will normally "fail closed" after this time. However, sludge and debris accumulation may cause the assembly to fail open and waste a lot of money as shown below. Actual pound loss may vary.

* Assigned orifice sizes employed in the traps when under the differential operating pressures as shown.

* Assigned orifice sizes employed in the traps when under the differential operating pressures as shown.

Should you have any questions, or if you would like to discuss any of this further, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.